A Saga of Fur and Feels

You know what's really heartbreaking? Fostering. Not in the way you'd think. Not in the oh no I stepped on a Lego kind of pain. More like I let this little creature into my heart and now my heart is wearing a hoodie with it's face on it and refuses to move out kind of pain.

I've been blessed to foster. That's the word. BLESSED. Blessed in a way that makes it very hard to say goodbye. 

I mean, just look at that face

Go ahead. Look. Your resolve will melt like an ice cube on a Texas sidewalk. 

You guys 💟

At one point, I thought I could let Huckleberry go.

I had peace, serenity, closure.

Then, the next morning, I looked into his big ole soulful eyes and I was like:

"Abort mission. I am keeping the floof."

Shoes on the other paw now, huh, Theo

The Foster vs Adopt Pendulum is less of a swing and more like a full-body pirate-ship ride at the local fair. And it's not just me. Theo loves Huckleberry, too. And now he knows what it's like to fall hard for a four-legged roommate.

Guest Room 2.0

As I contemplate the Huckleberry Dilemma, I've created a Kitty Room which used to be my guest room and apparently I prefer kitties as guests. I mean, who needs a guest room. Gone. Poof. My house used to say, Welcome, Guest! Now it says, Welcome, Furballs, with questionable boundaries!

Honestly, cats make the best guests. They bring their own snacks, use the bathroom in a box, and ignore you respectfully.

What I haven't mentioned is that I Marie Kondo'd my guest room. I disassembled it awhile back, and had gotten rid of all the furniture so it was actually empty - except for my Christmas tree which has squatters rights. All along, that room was waiting patiently for feline enrichment toys and tiny creatures that meow. Your welcome.

Side note: Since I've been practicing living in the main house with what I'll be taking to my little home, I feel very wow - as less is more and I love having less. It's different having less material things, no doubt, but I really love having just what I need, want or love (Thank you, The Home Edit). Our things own us, right? We have to clean it, maintain it, fix it. And if my things are going to own me, I prefer them with fur or feathers. And purr.

Kitty Room

So foster update: I got the call to take in a mama kitty with 4 young kittens who are still nursing. The responsibility in this felt a little heavier as they explained the "fading kitten syndrome" and what their protocol is if this occurs. No need to worry. No fading kittens. Only shy and elusive ones.  

And just so we can all understand what I'm saying.....I'm happy to tell you that all 4 kittens are giving. The food is bussin and they are here for it. Bro, KittenLand is not basic. It's fire. And that mama? She has all the drip.  

I know that was mid. And I may be corrected by those who know just how to correct me. But I hope it was a Big W. Tryna over here.

Ready for her Vogue spread. Her markings are 💣

It's a whole new world outside the crate

Best Mama Award 🏆

This little mama is tiny herself, and since this little cat family was simply 'found' outside by someone who then took them to the HSNT (Humane Society of North Texas) there's no DOB or age - nothin'. But somehow in all this, she's nailing motherhood like it's a TikTok trend.

Not to worry, the security camera keeps tabs on them like they do Puff Diddy. I see them out and about, playing while mama watches from the front porch aka refuge chair. Single mom-ing can be hard, y'all.

Litter box use ✓
Kittens at play ✓
Spa break in the getaway chair for mama ✓

Interesting nugget about the current naming system at HSNT:

Food it is. All animals there are currently named after a food, hence why Huckleberry is actually Jello. 

13/10 is accurate 

As an update on Huckleberry, his option for a home with Max and their family (see prior blog post for reference) did not iron out, so Huck is with me and I'm currently arranging an appt for his neuter. I did attempt to have him neutered as instructed at HSNT, but plot twist - he had a bit of kennel cough, so he was rescheduled for a later date. He bounced back like a puppy-shaped tennis ball, but surgery is on hold for safety. Safety is a choice, not a chance, right Lauren?

I'm still over here waffling between "foster" or "forever". Foster fail is real people. He's gonna find a home, no doubt. Unless that home is my home. TBD. 

And just for the record, I'm definitely keeping mama kitty. Not the kittens, as they'll find a home because they are kittens and everybody loves a kitten. But mama kitty....she's here to stay. I'll need to think of a name for her and likely not a food name.

Condensing while Living Large

I can do this. I've been practicing now for a couple of months. Living small in a large house. Trying to practice ahead of time.

How do I feel about this? 

Me
Also Olive preparing to take over the world
Blue Bell first 

Funny thing is, I've dreamed about living in a small home for a long time with just what I want, have or love in my home. And now, I'll be getting that opportunity. I'll eventually be able to tell you first hand if the dream is all it's cracked up to be.

Currently, it's being hand built by a mennonite family business in Commerce which automatically makes it more charming and 82% more cozier. 

On this particular day, I was approving the wall structures so that the foam insulation and walls could be completed. The plumbing and wiring is mostly completed. And yesterday, I had a septic system design completed so that I could get an estimate for the septic system to be installed for it.

So many windows I might have to name them

It's hard to really imagine it finished
 

This is one a little bigger than mine, 
and with a different ceiling. I
picked metal for my ceiling - but this 
looks really nice too. 

I've been asked many questions regarding my upcoming consolidation to a smaller space. What about all the dogs? And fosters? And will it be too small? And what are you doing with your main house (4 bedroom, 2 bath)? And your little house is farther from the barn? And my favorite, are you starting a commune? All valid questions. Yes, yes and maybe.

All dogs will be with me that are with me now (with the exception of Huckleberry as I still make my final decision) and yes, I plan on fostering cats in the home as well. My long term cat fostering plan is to get another of these little buildings/spaces (smaller though) for fostering of cats. Unless Brooke (yes you, Brooke) want to get you a little house next to mine and we can start a commune of C3-ers. 

But ultimately, I'll likely get another building with a small a/c unit for cat fosters, along with a dog feeding station inside. I can have it placed close to my existing arrangement:

This awning is big enough to cover 4 cars 
or a huge RV. 

My road is graveled and ready to lead me to my new area of being. I plan on getting my Tesla charger attached here, and will park my vehicles under the awning, as my house will be here:

The pad for the house is slightly elevated, with the cement
blocks for where the doors will be. 

The mowed path back "behind" the pretend-home-for-now goes to the pond, and to my running path around the property. I've also applied for an address for my new place, as that's required for a septic system for a 2nd dwelling on property - primarily for 911 purposes. So when I call 911 with my shot gun in my hand, they know to come to my house - and not the main house, for example. 

I'll eventually be at 239.
Currently, I live in my house at 237.
This portion shown is 10 of my 21+ acres.
The other 10 are back behind the big pond
and barn (bottom right corner)

I'm trying to try and do everything with legitimate intention (2nd address, proper septic, quality pad for the house) as adding a second dwelling has many moving parts to it - but I'm getting there. 

I digress. Oh yeah, the questions I'm asked.....yes, the barn is further and I'll likely get a mountain bike-of-sorts to go back and forth to the barn, because why not. I'm not wanting to get something motorized until I really have to. That day will come but while I can, I'm going to walk or pedal there. I'll make me a fun path straightaway to the barn we go. 

So cats, dogs and me in the little house. Maybe a littler house by my little house like I mentioned. But the big and most popular question is: What are you going to do with the main house? 

You guessed it! I've offered it up to Lauren and Ryan and they said Yes! Free.99 and how better to tempt my daughter and grandkids out to Wolfe City?! Because who wouldn't trade real estate for more grandkid time? 

Tentative Cannon plan? They move into the main house around May of next year. Brooks starts kindergarten. Olive conquers the world. 

My plan? Split the property out so they can have their part in their name, and my side in my name. It just feels right. If I'm going to pass the torch one day, I might as well do it now - while I can still help build the bonfire.

Lauren mentioned maybe quitting her job and going to nursing school, but no matter what she decides, they will hopefully have a little more financial freedom as well as freedom of land to roam. I'm here for whatever they decide and support them however I can along their own special, important journey of life.

With all this said, things can change and pivot - but for now, this is the plan I'm forging ahead with. I can't wait to be present in their daily stories: fish-catching, barn-exploring, goat-gazing, chicken-feeding. And you'll have a front row seat for it all.

Wait, one last question. Brooke, are you in, or are you IN for a small building of your own. Let me know.

Kim, I’m saving you a spot. 

Farmily Updates Please

Remember my equine dentist? Well, she's currently utilizing my back pasture for 6 of her horses and I wouldn't have it any other way. They've turned my pasture into the Prettiest Screensaver Ever. 

These folks are big, esp compared to my mini's

Turns out, when she was here doing dental work for my donkeys and horses, we discussed this as an option. The horses have over 10 acres to eat, roam, and drink from the pond. Besides the heat (there are trees for shade all around) they are doing great! 12/10 Pasture Ornaments.

They are excellent greeters and enjoy
face time with my horses and donkeys

They add a little something something to the ambiance.

And you know what? Poppy, who had 4 teeth pulled, is doing AMAZING now. 

Poppy glows. Literally glows.

Poppy is finally gaining weight with her bad teeth gone - and she's eating mash like a 8 month old baby sumo wrestler. She looks like she got a full glam squad makeover. 

Dora's on the mash now, too

So mash they will have. I can never express how grateful I am for the dental work provided. It's changed Poppy's life, and all my girls are doing well. There's a piece of mind knowing no one's teeth are bothering them. It was hard to watch at the time, but the reward it great. Lesson learned: Teeth matter. 

My buddy, Paul is ever present and gobbling.
Struts around like he owns the joint. He does. 

It's like a Hallmark movie around here. Except with more goats and less Christmas......

CoCo and Pearl are GOAT.
Pearl has been showing off her
fainting skills lately. My goat drama queen.

Brooks and I recently spent the day at the 
Children's museum in Fort Worth and 
WOW - what a dino-day it was! 

Lil Olive enjoys riding her new lil bicycle and is now signed up for the Tour de France.

Just being safe in bed

Thanks for playing y'all. And in the end, for me, it's not about the square footage - it's about the fur, family and feels. 💖

Keep the peace, 

Cyndi